Newspaper vending machine



Dec. 18, I951 L. R. DAVIS ETAL 2,579,068

NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 0 INVENTOR. Z .LzwgsfifiAr/ls ,2 2 BY ZDWARD L A 575R Ei TIER/REY? D 18, 1951 L. R. DAVIS ET AL NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed July 13, 1950 MMWMM WW F D EM during the vending thereof.

appended.

Patented Dec. 18, 1951 OFFICE NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Lewis B. Davis, Oakland, and Edward Lester,

Arcata, Calif.

Application July13, 1950, Serial No. 173,588

The present invention relates to improvements in a newspaper vending machine. It consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed. An object of our invention is to provide a coincontrolledmachine which is adapted to vend newspapers, or the like, without marring the newspapers or jamming them in the machine This vending machine is arranged to discharge one paper at a time from a stack of such newspapers, resetting itself after each operation for a subsequent vending manipulation.

It is further proposed in this invention to provide a storage compartment adapted to have a stack of folded newspapers placed therein by the dealer, this compartment having an inclined bottom along which the newspapers will gravitate toward a paper delivery slot. As an important object of the invention, we elevate the newspaper. being vended relativeto the inclined bottom as thepaper is ejected, clearing it for easy discharge through the delivery slot.

As a still further object, we provide a newspaper'vending machine, which is designed to receive a coin of a predetermined denomination, for instance ten cents, representing an over-payment. During the vending of the paper, the correct change is returned, automatically to the customer, say three cents, thus making the actual cost of the newspaper as seven cents. V

Another object is to provide a device of the character described, which is simple in construction-durable and eiiicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues, and the novel features will be set forth in the claims hereunto Drawings -vending machine;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken, along the line II-II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the path taken by a folded newspaper during vending thereof from our machine; Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view ,taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 2; and

3 Claims. (01.194-79) Figure. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through a portionof the machine, as seen from the line V-V of Figure 4.

While we have shown only the preferred form of our invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description In carrying our invention into practice, we make use of a housing indicated generally at A As disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, this housing includes front and rear wall I and 2, respectively,

opposing end walls 3, top 4, and a bottom 5. Within the housing, we arrange a partition 6 that extends between the front, rear, top and bottom Walls. 7

Thus the partition 6 divides the interior of the housing into newspaper-receiving and mechanism compartments B and C, respectively. Access may be had to the compartment B by a door I, which is hinged at 8 to one of the end walls. A suitable lock 9 may be used for retaining this door in closed position.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the free edge II! of the door is spaced from the partition 6 to define a paper-delivery slot D at the front of the housing. Newspapers E are delivered one at a time through this slot during operation of the machine.

For the purpose of causing the newspapers to gravitate toward the partition 6, and thereby place them in a position for delivery through the slot D, weprovide an inclined bottom II in the compartment B. The folded edges I2 of the newspapers rest upon this inclined bottom when the papers are placed in the compartment B, with the leaves M of the papers extending upwardly. These newspapers parallel the partition 6, and are urged toward the latter by a weighted follower F. Thisfollower has an inclined base [5, which slides on the bottom H. As each newspaper is withdrawn through the slot D, the next paper is moved into registration with the slot for subsequent delivery. As indicated in Figure 2, the forward vertical edges [6 of the newspapers are spaced inwardly from the front wall I of the housing a sufficient distance to prevent a person from reaching through the slot D and making an unauthorized withdrawal of a paper.

Within the compartment C, we mount a pair of inclined rails I! on which a carriage G is slidably mounted for movement toward or away from the front wall I of the housing A. The rear por- 2,679,068 I f a Y 3 tions of these rails have been shown as being anchored to a support l8 mounted on the parti-- tion 6, while the forward portions of the rails are secured to the front wall I.

Referring to Figures 2 and l, it will be observed that the rails l1 are disposed parallel relative to the partition 6, and slope upwardly toward the front wall I. The carriage G is fashioned with upper and lower notched lugs l9 and 20, respectively, which straddle the rails H. A bar 2|, forming the main body of the carriage G, interconnects these two lugs.

As disclosed in Figure 4, a roller H is mounted between the lugs l9 and in parallel relation with the partition 6 and the bar 22. At the top of this roller we provide a tapered journal pin 22. This pin is rotatably mounted in a conical recess 23 fashioned in the bottom end of an adjustable stud 24 carried by the upper lug I9. Likewise, the lower end of the roller H is provided with a tapered journal pin 25, which seats in a conical recess 26 provided in the lower lug 20.

Of course, the roller H moves with the carriage G as the latter is moved toward or away from the front wall I of the housing. This roller has a pair of pointed newspaper-engaging fingers 21 projecting radially therefrom into inclined slots 28 formed in the partition 6. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the slots 28 parallel the rails I1. As the specification proceeds, it will be made clear that the pointed fingers 21 are employed for ejecting one newspaper at a time through the delivery slot D; provided, however, that a coin J of proper denomination has been inserted into the machine through a coin chute 29. i

The bar 2| of the carriage G has a pair of spaced-apart arms 30 projecting laterally therefrom. These arms straddle a carriage-shifter bar 3| in which a coin-receiving slot 32 is provided. When the carriage G is fully retracted into thefull-line position shown in Figures 2 and 5, the slot 32 is disposed rearwardly of the arms 36. In this position of the carriage-shifter bar,

the slot 32 is disposed to receive a coin J gravitating through the chute 29.

Upon discharge of a coin J from the chute 29 into the slot 32, this coin comes to rest on a stationary bracket 33 supported by the partition 6 (see Figure 4). At this time, the coin is disposed substantially vertically in the slot 32 at right angles to the plane of the partition.

The carriage-shifter bar 3| has a pull rod 34 connected thereto, which is guided in an opening 35 formed in the front wall An operating knob 36 on this pull rod is disposed exteriorly of the housing A to be grasped and. pulled forwardly by the purchaser of a newspaper. A retraction rod 31 is connnected to the rear portion of the shifter bar 3|. Figure 2 shows a tension sprin 38 having its ends connected to the rod 31 and the rear wall 2 of the housing. The purpose of this spring is to return the parts to the full-time position shown in Figure 2 when the knob 36 is released.

Assuming that a coin J has been deposited in the slot 32 of the carriage-shifter bar 3|, and that the purchaser is pulling outwardly on the knob 36, it is quite apparent that this shifter bar will move relative to the carriage G until this coin comes into contact with the arms 36 of the carriage. At this time, the coin already has been transferred from the stationary bracket most arm 36 in Figures 2 and 4.

' the full-line position disclosed in Figure 5; that is, they project into the slots 28 of the partition 6. However, they do not penetrate into the newspaper E which is bearing against the partition 6. As the carriage-shifter bar 3| is moved forwardly, the coin J in the slot 32 will swing the lever 48 in a clockwise direction in Figure 5, until this lever abutts the bar 2| of the carriage .G, as suggested by the dotdash lines in Figure 5. 1

This movement of the lever 40, of course, will impart a corresponding partial rotation of the roller H, swinging the pointed fingers 21 into a position to penetrate the newspaper then abutting the partition. As the carriage-shifter bar 3| is pulled outwardly to a greater extent, the coin J is retained by the bracket 39 against the arms 36, and the carriage G and roller H will move as a unit toward the front wall I of the housing.

An intermediate position of the carriage is indicated at Gl in Figure 2, while the extreme forward position of the carriage is suggested at G2 in this same view. Obviously, this carriage moves uphill as it is advanced along the inclined rails [1 in Figure 2. This will cause the lower forward corner 4| of the paper to move along the inclined path 42 shown in Figures 2 and 3. Thus the folded edge l2 of the newspaper being vended will be elevated above the inclined bottom I I as the newspaper is projected through the paper-delivery slot D. This will prevent jamming of'the paper.

At this time the vertical leadingledge |6 of the newspaper projects wellahead of the front wall I. The customer may grasp this newspaper and pull it entirely out of the machine. Referring to Figure 5, this extraction of the newspaper will cause the roller H to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, since the pointed fingers 21 are penetrating into the newspaper. This partial rotation of the roller will free the fingers 21 from the newspaper, and will return the lever 40 to its normal full-line position in Figure 5. I

The carriage-shifter bar 3| has an abutment pin 43 fixed thereto ahead of the carriage G. Initially this pin will be moved away from the carriage G as the bar 3| is pulled outwardly, until the coin J in the slot 32 strikes the arms 30 of the carriage. After the knob 36 has been fully extended, and then released, the spring 38 will retract the carriage-shifter bar 3|. This will bring the pin 43 up against the carriage, returning the latter from its G2 location to the fullline positionGinFigure 2. I

As the carriage is retracted, the slot32 will move rearwardly of the bracket 39, thus allowing the coin J to be ejected. This coin will drop, as suggested by the arrow 44, and will be caught in a coin tray 45 accommodated in the housing.

The entrance slot 46 leading to the coin chute may be designed for receiving a dime. In the event that the actual cost of a newspaper is For;reciprocating the plate 48,

awogoes seven cents, obviously three cents in change must be returned to the customer. This is accomplished automatically in our machine.

In order to return the correct change to the "customer, we provide a tube 41 in the compart- Figure 2.= This plate has a depth corresponding with the thickness of the coins to be returned as change. In other words, when returning'three centsin change, the depth of the plate 48 would be equal tothree pennies; 3

' we make use of an arm 50 that is fixed to the carriage G. Any suitable means may be employed for supporting the'plate 48, such as a guide fixed to the partition 6 (see Figure 4) A coin-delivery chute 52 has a ledge 53 disposed beneath the opening 49 to prevent the coins K from dropping out of the opening 49 until such time as the plate 48 is moved forwardly.

The arm 50 projects through a'relatively long slot 54 fashioned in the coin-ejecting plate 48. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the arm 55 will move through a considerable distance before striking the forward end wall 54a of this'slot. However, further movement of the arm 50 toward the front wall I of the housing will result in bringing the opening 49 of the ejecting plate into a position where the coins carried thereby will be discharged into the chute 52 for delivery into a coin receptacle 55. The change is indicated at Kl in Figure 2, which is accessible to the customer.

Upon movement of the carriage G back into normal position, the arm 50 will strike against the rear end wall 5% of the slot 54 in the coinejecting plate 48, returning the latter to the full line position shown in Figure 2. This will allow three more pennies to gravitate into the opening 49 for the next operation.

Summary of operation The operation of our newspaper vending machine is summarized briefly as follows:

In loading the machine with a supply of newspapers E, the door 1 is opened, and these papers are inserted into the compartment B of the housing A. The several newspapers are arranged parallel with the partition 6, with the folded edges I2 of the papers resting on the inclined bottom II, as shown in Figure 1. of the papers will point upwardly, and the newspaper adjacent to the partition 6 will register with the paper-delivery slot D. Now the door Iv may be secured in closed position :by the lock 9 to prevent unauthorized removal of papers.

Assuming that the selling price of the newspaper is seven cents, the custom-er inserts a dime J into the entrance slot 46 leading to the coin chute 29. The dime thus inserted will gravitate through the chute, and drop into the transversely-disposed coin-receiving slot 32 provided in the carriage-shifter bar 3|. This coin will come to rest on the stationary bracket 33.

Next, the customer pulls forwardly on the knob 36, resulting in the rod 34 moving the carriageshifter bar 3| toward the front wall I of the housing A. This movement will transfer the coin J from the stationary bracket 33 to the movable bracket 39, bringing the coin up against the arms 30 of the carriage G. The bracket 39 The leaves l4 will hold the coin in place, even though tension is-eased up on the knob 36. 1

' Referringto Figure 5, as the carriage-shifter bar 3| and its coin J- are advanced, the lever 40 will cause a partial rotation of the roller H. The pointed fingers 21 on this roller will be moved into the dot-dash line position shown in Figure 5, causing them to penetrate into the newspaper immediately adjacent to the partition 6.

Up to this time, the carriage G remains stationary, that. is, it occupies the full-line position disclosed in Figure 2. However, as the customer continues to pull on the knob 36, the carriage will move upwardly along the inclined rails |1- until it reaches the dot-dash line position G2.

the inclined path 42, as suggested in Figures-2 and 3. Actually, the folded edge |2 of the paper will move parallel with itself and will be lifted above the inclined bottom H as the paper is projected through the delivery slot D in the front of the housing.

The-customer now grasps the projecting end of the newspaper and completes withdrawal thereof from the housing. This withdrawal of the paper will result in swinging the roller H back into its full-line position shown in Figure 5.

As the carriage G moves forwardly, the arm rising therefrom strikes against the forward end wall 54a of the slot 54 in the coin-ejecting plate 48. During the final movement of the arm 50 toward the front wall, the plate 48 will transfer the proper change, for instance three pennies, from the coin tube 47 to the coin-delivery chute 52. This change Kl will gravitate into the receptacle 55, where it may be removed by the customer.

Upon release of the knob 36, the tension spring 38, acting through the retraction rod 37, will pull the carriage-shifter bar 3| toward the rear wall 2 of the housing. During the initial return movement of the bar 3|, the coin J then in the slot 32 of the bar 3| will be freed from the bracket 39. This released coin will drop into the tray 45.

As the bar 3| continues its rearward movement, the pin 43 thereon will strike the carriage G, returning the latter and the roller H to its starting position.

Obviously, when a newspaper is withdrawn through the delivery slot D, the next newspaper in the stack will be pushed against the partition 6 by the gravity-actuated follower F, and the machine will be ready for a repeat operation.

Although we have described our machine in connection with vending newspapers, it will be realized that magazines, periodicals, etc., may be vended by utilizing our machine.

We claim:

1. In a newspaper vending machine: at least one guide rail; a carriage mounted on the rail for movement therealong; a roller supported by and journalled on the carriage for turning movements; the roller being provided with paperengaging means; the carriage having at least one arm projecting therefrom; a carriage-shifter bar movable relative to the carriage, and arranged adjacent to the arm of the latter; this shifter bar having a slot therein to receive a coin, with the coin projecting from the bar into a position to strike the carriage arm when the shifter bar is advanced with respect to the carriage, whereby further advancement of the bar will move the carriage therewith; and a lever 7 fixed to. the roller to turn the. latter; thelever having an end disposedin the path of the coin to be swung thereby as vthe coin is moved by the shifter bar toward the arm of the carriage.

2. In a newspaper vending machine; at least one guide rail; a carriage mounted on the rail for movement therealong; a roller supported by and journalled on the carriage for turning movements; the roller being provided with paperengaging means; the carriage having at least one arm projecting therefrom; acarriage-shifter bar movable relative to the carriage, and arranged adjacent to the arm of the latter; this shifter bar having a slot therein to receive a coin, with the coin projecting from the bar into a position to strike the carriage arm when the shifter bar is advanced with respect to the carriage, whereby further advancement of the bar will move the carriage therewith; a lever fixed to the roller to turn the latter; the lever having an, end disposed in the path of the coin to be swung thereby as the coin is moved by the shifter bar toward the arm of the carriage; and means for returning the carriage with the shifter bar after the bar has returned a predetermined distance relative to the carriage.

3, In a newspaper vending machine: at least one guide rail; a carriage mounted on the rail for movement therealong; a roller supported by and journalled on the carriage for turning movements; the roller being provided with paperengaging means; the carriage having at least one arm projecting therefrom; a carriage-shifter bar movable relative to thecarriage, and arranged adjacent to the arm of the latter; this shifter bar having a slot therein to receive a coin, with the coin projecting from the bar into a position to strike the carriage arm when the shifter bar is advanced with respect to; the carriage, whereby further advancement of the bar will move the carriage therewith; a stationary bracket for initially retaining the coin in the slot; a movable bracket mounted on the carriage in a position to receive and still support the coin in the slot as the coin approaches the carriage arm; means disposed in the path of the coin to swing the roller as the shifter bar is advanced relative to the carriage arm; and means for returning the carriage with the shifter bar after the bar has returned relative to the carriage a distance sufficient to move the coin off the movable bracket.

LEWIS R. DAVIS.

EDWARD LESTER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Number Heaton Mar. 26, 1940 

